Indian-American Legislators Call for US Action on Pakistan's Violence and Military Rule

November 28 :
Representative Ro Khanna and Senator Raja Krishnamoorthi are among the Indian American lawmakers who have spoken out against the continuing bloodshed in Pakistan and demanded that the United States take firm action against General Asim Munir's military dictatorship.

They called for actions like asset freezes and travel bans on high-ranking Pakistani officials to stop what they saw as violent crackdowns on peaceful protestors. Concerned with allegations of a cover-up surrounding the purported assassinations of nonviolent protestors in Pakistan by the dictatorship of Asim Munir, Representative Ro Khanna expressed her horror on X. The United States should put a stop to key regime officials' travel and freeze their assets.

The use of live bullets and mass arrests by Pakistan's security forces in their crackdown on demonstrations is profoundly disturbing, as Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi has voiced his concerns over the matter. I strongly oppose the use of force and implore the authorities to permit the continuation of peaceful demonstrations.

Warnings of violence and purported efforts to cover up the number of casualties have prompted the denunciations. At least 17 citizens have been killed and hundreds more injured as a result of shooting by paramilitary and military personnel, according to official sources. Over 40 people have been treated by doctors at Islamabad hospitals after being shot; seven of those victims have been pronounced dead. Both representatives stressed that the United States must reject authoritarianism and hold perpetrators of the violence to account.